Conor Bates
Staff Reporter

The Dublin University American Football Team secured its first ever championship on Saturday when they beat UL Vikings in Limerick.

Trinity started brightly after kickoff and forced early fumbles on the Limerick offence. Defensive lineman Ziad Foty recovered one such fumble and almost returned it, being stopped just short. This was converted for six points by running back Rob McDowell. Trinity missed a two-point conversion.Immediately after half time UL scored a passing touchdown, against the run of play. They too missed a two-point conversion, leaving the game at 6-6.

The overtime that followed saw many contentious official decisions Stephen Carton intercepted a pass to leave the offence in great scoring position. Again the ball was offloaded to McDowell who cruised into the endzone for a Trinity win in the third quarter of overtime.
Carton was awarded man of the match.

By James Hussey

It is a well known fact that history loves a strapping young man. Our world, and particularly our generation, feast daily on the trials and tribulations of stars from the worlds of sport, music and acting. Though I have always had a soft spot for the more athletically minded, in recent years I have found it increasingly difficult to find “heroes” or people to admire in the world of sport.

The squeaky clean image popularly attached to rugby has increasingly been tarnished by controversial tackles, game-destroying tactics and the general lack of sportsmanship shown by many of its most decorated stars. My love of Italian football, and especially Juventus, took a critical blow with the revelation of match fixing during the past decade, though the genius of Alessandro del Piero keeps me clinging on.

This lengthy preamble brings me back to my search for an idol in modern-day sport. The classical heroes we see in history, the dandies and the world conquerors, have long since disappeared. The general public has no tolerance for heroes that wish to hold an iron grip over the world, slay a hideous Grecian monster or have a wardrobe made up exclusively of designer brand names. In the sporting community, we are, quite like the song, in dire need of a hero. And yes, he’s got to be strong and he’s got to be fast and he’s got to be fresh from a fight.

So where can such a man be found? Cast your eyes towards the Premiership footballer, modernity’s answer to Achilles and the multitudes of men that have represented the hero image throughout history. A myriad of Premiership footballers have used their talent to overcome various childhood troubles, family problems and adverse economic conditions, such as Manchester City’s striker Carlos Tevez who grew up in a tough Buenos Aires neighbourhood, catapulting them to a life of money, stardom and glory. The position these highly paid men play in our society cannot be underestimated. They provide a welcome form of escapism for millions of people across the world.

In many ways, soccer and its players have become a religion for vast swathes of the planet’s population. This may be an indication of the increasingly secularised society in which we live, but it also serves as a comment for the sheer popularity of the beautiful game. The haircuts they inspire, the numerous goal celebrations re-enacted across the world and the pouting and gesticulating that inevitably ensues after a poor refereeing decision, are all down to the paragons of man that we watch on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

The ordinary people tend not to discuss the finer details of ecumenical matters outside shops and pubs on the average week day, but how many of those same people will talk about the minutiae of United‘s or City’s next fixture? The world therefore needs to embrace the footballer as the paradigm of humanity. Athletic, strong, talented, quick thinking and at the forefront of their respective field, their hunger marks them out from the masses who dream of one day playing at the top level.

The killer instinct that has proven the saviour of humankind through the millennia is present in abundance in the average footballer. It is this that makes them heroes to millions across the globe and sets them on a societal pedestal. The word “hero” is bandied about a lot in the modern world but I believe that it’s time to accept and embrace the footballer as an archetype of humanity.

The way you look on this last statement depends on how you view our society today. Accept it as truth and live contentedly amidst Sky Sports Soccer Saturday updates and RTÉ’s aged pundits. On the other hand, if you reject such a preposterous idea as a damning indictment on how life has given into the homogenised, sensationalised world of the tabloids, you are left to shudder at the number of young boys who wish to be world famous sports stars.

By Kate Rowan

The first time I ever placed a bet was in 2000 on Ruby Walsh riding Papillon in the Grand National. I’ve not backed a Grand National Winner since, so Papillon and his jockey have a special place in my sporting memories. At the launch of his autobiography, Ruby Walsh was interviewed by journalist Malachy Clerkin, who co-wrote the book with him. Immediately the subject of his colourful moniker came up. Walsh explained in his Kildare brogue, “I was called after my grandfather, he was Ruby too, which was short for Rupert because he was born on the feast of St. Rupert.”

Much is said about the bloodlines and genealogy of horses, but Walsh himself has an impressive racing pedigree. In his day, Walsh Senior was a jockey and trainer, and is now famous as an RTÉ racing pundit, making remarks about “riding” that sound like racy innuendos to those uninitiated to the racing world. His late grandfather and namesake was also a trainer from “a great family of horse people.”

Younger sister Katie is making a name for herself as a jockey, and notched up two winners at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Her brother joked, “I don’t get much of a chance to ride many of dad’s horses anymore because of Katie!” All the family was in the audience to support him and many punters had a word with Ted about tips in upcoming races, which he seemed delighted to oblige.

For someone as successful as Walsh – two Grand National wins on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter in 2005, then winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice on Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009 – he comes across as down to earth. Of his fledgling career as an amateur jockey in his teens he said, “I was lucky my dad is a trainer because nobody else would have given me a ride back then.” He went on to explain there was no other career path for him: “I always knew it would be racing, there was nothing else”. His mother Helen insisted he finish school.

Walsh got permission from his school to take some time off each week to go racing, so he could establish himself in the business. Laughing he told of how “part of the deal was that I would study and do homework on my way home from races, I would sit in the back of the car with a book and I would at least pretend I was doing some work!”

His mother was also keen for him to apply for some college courses as a back-up plan but ever determined to follow his dream the Kill native purposely put down “grand old courses like veterinary and medicine, knowing well I wouldn’t get five or six hundred points” so the path was clear for him to race full-time after he completed his Leaving Cert.

After a very promising and smooth start to his career as a professional jockey, Walsh suffered his first serious injury at Pardubice in the Czech Republic, breaking his leg in October 1999. He missed five months of racing and during this time started to doubt if his career would continue to flourish but this led to him in his opinion gaining an advantage “nobody is as hungry as you when you get back, I was mad for action when I first came back”. Despite a Cheltenham Festival without any winners the young jockey was just around the corner from a victory he would describe as “meaning the most emotionally” to him of all his triumphs.

That win was of course was guiding my old friend Papillon to success in the Grand National. The reason this win was so special to Walsh, other than it being his first win and first time attempting such an iconic race was that his father was the trainer. Also the owner Betty Moran was a family friend.

The jockey described the gelding “as a family horse”. He showed his grounded side again when he shared his thoughts during the build up to the famous National Hunt race: “I was more thrilled with the idea of actually having a ride in the race at all.” 

From that point ten years ago Walsh became a household name and has since racked up the most winners for a jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, the sweetest of those moments being his two Gold Cup triumphs on Kauto Star trained by Paul Nicholls.

He talked animatedly of his great friendship and rivalry with Tony McCoy, or A.P. as he calls him. Often when the Kildare man is across the water he stays with McCoy and has been doing so for eight years. He explained, “I only knew A.P. to say hello to but he was a friend of a friend and I was looking for a place to stay and it was suggested I would stay with him and I have done so ever since. It is great to have a home to stay in rather than a hotel. They even have ‘Ruby’s room’ in their house now!”

Some of the most fascinating insights into Walsh’s career and views on the racing world came up during the question and answer session after the main interview. When asked which jockeys he disliked he said there was huge rivalry between them all but because racing is such a dangerous sport, any of them could have a serious accident during the next race, so there is no point in being petty.

It was also interesting to discover that many jockeys including Walsh prefer it when the going is soft because “you can have a bit of a banter but when the going is hard, you have to be more careful and keep your head down as it is much faster and so more dangerous.”

I was surprised by how candid Walsh was on the matter of female jockeys when questioned if he would mind his young daughter Isabelle riding when she was older. “I am not sexist but, women are much lighter than men and so the falls affect them much more, even though my sister rides I don’t think I would like my daughter to do it but I wouldn’t mind as much if I had a son.”

There was more honesty on show when asked about following his father into training: “I don’t know if I am diplomatic enough to deal with all the owners and jockeys”.

Not for the first time in the session, he came across as self-effacing when he said that “the owners are the most important people in racing, the jockeys and trainers like to think they are but without the owners there would be no trainers, jockeys, punters or bookmakers.”

Ruby proved to be a gem as he signed books afterwards and chatted happily with the punters as his family mingled with the crowd just as if they were at a race meeting at Puncherstown or Cheltenham.

By Conor Bates

Jim Flynn was naturally hopeful before his side’s game against Old Belvedere: “this game will tell a tale in itself” said the U21 Rugby manager. The tale he desired would not be a Trinity horror story on a dark Halloween evening. The sides lined out at College Park on a pitch which was bearing the scars of many training sessions and looking very cut-up and patchy in spots. The weather was dry but the pitch was slick: perfect conditions for rugby.

Trinity received the opening kick-off and the game with a spell of nervous kicking from both sides. Trinity settled in well, taking advantage of many of the lineouts which followed the kicks. Forwards Will Scott, Jack Kelly and Daragh Kiely rose highest to bring in dead-straight throws from Paddy Carroll: a master-class in all round lineout play. They made solid progress from as early as the third minute, with powerful, effective mauling and forward play and quick passing to the backs, provided by scrum-half David Fanagan. Indeed, there was only one moment of chance for Belvedere in the opening exchanges when they broke quickly from a penalty scrum, but flanker Warren Larkin was on hand to make a textbook tackle.

Trinity began to dominate in all aspects, in particular the lineout, even winning some of the opposition’s throw-in’s and continued to battle their way up-field. They were rewarded with a penalty in the 8 minute for an offside. Unfortunately, this was missed by full-back Barry McGuinness.

They retained the ball well, made monster breaks and hit hard on defence. The fruit of their labour was a penalty in the ninth minute which was dispatched to the corner for another lineout. Trinity again won possession and almost converted it for a try in the 11th minute. Their forward momentum was unfortunately halted when fly-half Jack Costigan committed a forward pass on the 5 metre line, after a strong tackle. In reality, it was all Trinity for the first ten minutes.

Trinity continued to drive forward and attack the space, getting to the 10 metre line again before turning over the ball. Belvo began to respond to the mounting pressure from their Premier Division opponents and slowly started to carry the ball towards the Trinity end line.

However, Trinity were equal to Belvedere’s probing and centre Ed Barry carried the ball tenaciously, forcing a penalty in the 25th minute. Again, Trinity played for the corner, with Costigan setting up another lineout for the boys in red and black. The resultant rucks moved the ball the last ten metres as flanker Warren Larkin powered over the line for the game’s opening score: a try in the corner. Full-back McGuinness missed the conversion to make it 5-0 after 27 minutes.

After the restart it was more of the some from Trinity. But Belvedere dug in, and began to finally make headway into the Trinity defence. Uncharacteristic turnovers and quick breaks from the Belvo centres against the run of play granted them glimpses of opportunity. In the 32nd minute, the admirable Trinity defence could withstand no longer, as Belvedere fly-half Gearoid McDonald dived over beside the post, and converted himself, to make it 7-5 in favour of the visitors.

Trinity never gave up and recovered possession after the restart. As half time closed in, Belvo began to force the issue, and Trinity conceded a penalty for crossing. McDonald missed from his position, wide on the right.

Half time came with the score 5-7, and this game becoming more of a rollercoaster and more intriguing with every second. Expletives and encouragement poured in from all of the managers in this bruising display of forward bulk and power.

From the restart Trinity maintained their composure. They drove well into challenges, gaining ground, but ultimately conceding the ball close to goal as the result of a penalty. Belvo responded in kind, throwing everything at Trinity winning scrums and forcing some last ditch tackles. As they mounted pressure they appeared to cut the defence open, but a tackle from winger Ariel Roblez prevented any further movement. They game continued in the vein of a heavyweight fight for the next 15 minutes. They made subs as their courageous frontline began to succumb to the effects of 60 minutes of intense rugby.

In the 60th minute, Belvo struck a blow when they were rewarded a penalty in front of goal, 15 metres out, which was easily converted.

They were to have the next sucker punch as well, when a brief moment of sloppy Trinity defence allowed Belvo a try in the corner. They failed to convert, leaving the score at 15-5, in the 70th minute.

As desperation began to set in for a side that didn’t deserve to be losing, the home side began to become more adventurous in their ball carrying.

They were rewarded very late on when Ed Barry offloaded to Rob Creuss Callaghan, who dived over beside the post. His try was converted by winger Niyi Adeolukan. With time running away on them, Trinity tried their best to keep the ball in play, and in true testament to their character, they did so very effectively.

Ultimately, however, it was to be Belvedere’s day, as they forced the ball over the touchline to receive the spoils of war, beating Trinity 15-12.

In truth, Trinity had played much better and had just not scored enough points. For a team which has less weeks’ worth of practice behind them than most of their group rivals, they performed exceptionally. They never gave up at any stage, and admittedly dominated many aspects of the game.

Dublin University under-21s have previously beaten St. Mary’s and Old Wesley, and this loss will do little to dent their confidence, as they continue to push for league glory.

By Eleni Megoran

Dublin University Soccer Club had a fantastic game on Saturday the October 30 with its fifth win in the Leinster Senior Football League. It was a game of beautiful football being played by Dublin University against Glenmore Dundrum.

With kick-off at 1 pm it meant that it was a sunny afternoon match that was awaiting the players. The pitch however was soggy after this week’s rain, which meant that players had to really work hard to get up and down the pitch.

The first half began with the two teams going head to head. Dublin fiercely attacked with Ciaran Lawler crossing the ball which found attacker’s Donal O’Cofaigh head but just missed the goal.

Glenmore had a number of sloppy corners throughout the game which were being quickly hit away by Dublin. However Glenmore quickly replied to Dublin’s strong attack, with a great cross by Glenmore’s number 11. The cross found number 5’s head who quickly headed it into the left hand side of Dublin’s goal. Putting Glenmore in the lead in the first half.

Dublin kept weaving past Glenmore’s strong defence pressurising them with multiple shots which were all just off target. Dublin were on the verge of a goal throughout the beginning of the first half. It was Captain Conal O’Shaughnessy who equalised the game. Heading the ball that had just been hit off the bar, into the left hand side of the goal making it 1-1, ten minutes before half time.

Glenmore’s number 8 was tackled by James Connolly. Glenmore’s number 2 was given a free kick just in front of the half way line. Dublin stopped the opposition from gaining any ground with that free kick but a poor pass meant that Glenmore’s number 5 was able to take a shot at goal. Goalkeeper Niall O’Carroll saved the shot keeping Dublin in the game.

James Connolly’s throw on created the opportunity for number 8, Thomas Wylie’s fantastic goal which was neatly placed into the right hand corner of the goal.

Glenmore had some good runs down the pitch trying to break Dublin’s defense. Which was demonstrated by Glenmore’s number 9, wasted run up the right hand side of the pitch with no one to pass or to cross to in the box.

Dublin kept most of the possession and really set the tempo of the game to a pass that suited them. Glenmore continued to try to break Dublin’s defence with constant attacking play. Glenmore did get a corner that nearly closed the gap between the two teams because the corner was poorly cleared by Dublin who allowed Glenmore’s number 2 to swiftly try to shoot at goal, but luckily for Dublin they missed.

Dublin’s attackers were determined right up to the last whistle was blown to break past there oppositions defense. Especially Glenmore’s number 4 who was constantly fracturing the efforts of Dublin.

Number 7’s beautiful goal was just inside the box which put Dublin ahead of Glenmore. At full time Glenmore warily wandered off and Dublin celebrated to focus on the upcoming Colours match against UCD, Wednesday week.

Jimmy Cumiskey, Dublin’s coach proudly commented on the match saying, “it went very, very well and to concede an early goal was disappointing obviously, but the lads showed great character, absolutely tremendous character to win the game”.

By Michael Gaskin

Trinity sought to get their season back on track after back-to-back away losses to Malone and Belfast Harlequins. While they did come away with a losing bonus point from both games they were in need of a win to keep in touch with those also chasing a promotion spot.

They played well in parts a poor first-half showing in which they never threatened the Midleton try line and a disjointed passing display really should have laid to rest any chance of victory. However a gritty second half performance saw them haul themselves back into a game that looked like Midleton had wrapped up after the hour mark.

Trinity began the brighter of the two sides and quickly set about probing the Midleton defence. Their opening salvo into the Midleton 22 was as good as it was for Trinity in the first half, as the visitors began to physically impose themselves on the game.

Over the course of the next ten minutes, Midleton had three chances to score. However their full back sliced his penalty to the right and wide of the uprights. Immediately after the restart the Midleton number 8 went on a marauding run through the heart of the Trinity defence only to be hauled 5 metres short of try line. At the third time of asking Midleton finally got the score their dominance deserved. Their full back slotted over penalty 5 metres in front of the posts.

Midleton continued to keep Trinity on the back foot over the next twenty-five minutes, giving the home side little chance to play the open flowing rugby they excel at. After a Midleton lineout on the Trinity 22, their number 8 went on another rampaging run at the Trinity defence and offloaded for Middleton’s’ open-side flanker to slide in the corner. Their kicking once again let them down as their full back missed the conversion from out on the sideline.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Trinity suffered a double blow. Firstly they lost winger Shane Hanratty to the sin bin for the rest of the half and then Midleton extended their lead further when their winger weaved his way through the Trinity defence to score in the corner. With another conversion missed Trinity felt they were still in with a chance.

Right on the stroke of half time full back Tim McCoy decided to try his luck from the half way line with an ambitious penalty kick. While it had the legs it lacked in accuracy as it drifted harmlessly to the left and wide, to give Midleton a 13 – 0 at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half and with a full complement of players, Trinity used their scrum to excellent effect as they drove over the Midleton try line for Scott La Valla to touch down directly in front of the posts. With Ciaran Wade slotting over the extras, Trinity had the score back to 13-7 and were back in the game.

Six minutes later they Midleton’s full back effortlessly broke the trinity line and offloaded to the ball to their winger to slide in .Even with the conversion missed Midleton now had 18 points to 7 lead and looked in a strong position to close out the game.

Shortly after the hour mark Trinity began to empty their bench hoping fresh legs would break down a leggy Midleton side. It looked like it had paid dividends for them as with eight minutes remaining Conor Colclough danced his way through the visitors defence and laid the ball off for Tim McCoy to score in the corner. With 8 minutes left in the game the home side were once again in with a shout of claiming unlikely victory.

In the last few minutes of the game Trinity began to turn the screw on a tired-looking Midleton team. With a scrum 5 metres from the Midleton goal and time now over Trinity put in one final push and James Gethings barged his way over the line to make it a one-point game with a conversion to come. Unluckily for Trinity the conversion, like their comeback, fell just short.

By Eleni Megoran

Rob William McDowell is not your ordinary American Football running back. He is the first Irish player to be shortlisted to play American Football in the top under-19 competition for the World team playing against Team USA in Austin, Texas next year. Rob sees it as a “once in a lifetime experience.”

Rob is a top sports man in Trinity College with an extensive sports background in parkour and has played rugby since the age of 11. He started playing American Football only a year ago when a friend suggested that he try the sport out because he would not get into trouble for jumping over people, unlike in rugby. Rob says that playing the sport is the “best of both world.” He was extremely flattered to be the only Irish American Football player to be nominated for the World Team by the Irish Federation for American Football.

The competition on Wednesday, 2 February, 2011, which will be played in Westlake High School’s Ebbie Neptune Field at Chaparral Stadium, is a significant step up for the young player’s sporting prospects. Rob humorously stated that it is “very very scary, it really is, I have never played in front of more then 20 people, including the players, it’s a bit of a big step up.” The game will be be played in front of 50,000 fans with more people watching the match on ESPN. The competition was established last year and was played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the World team only lost the game 17-0. The World team held the USA team not allowing them a touchdown until the final play of the first half.

The World team will be playing the best high school players from all over America which will field a 45 player roster. Most countries submit a few players every year to try to play for the World team which is usually made up of international players spanning four continents.

However in reality the World team is usually made up of a high percentage of Canadians, with last years team consisting of 39 Canadians out of the 45 players. There was no one last year from Britain or Ireland that made the team. There was over 200 people that were on the provisional list for the World team and Rob has been short listed to the 60 potential players.

He modestly states “I can’t catch very well so the quarterback just gives it to me and I run.” The video that was submitted by his coach for the selection for the World team shows the powerful speed that Rob has.

For someone that took up American Football just for a laugh he has been not only thrust to the front of the DU American Football (DUAF) team but he will also be playing against top players in America.

The newly DUCAC affiliated DUAF club is supporting Rob not only in his training but also to help him raise the money to pay for his registration fee of 500 euros.

The team will organising a fundraiser a “send Rob to Texas night out.” Stephen Fallon, President DUAF club has said that they are all “very pleased for Rob and we wish him the best of luck.”

Rob has not only been committed to his training with Trinity but also with keeping up with the online training log for the International Federation for American Football which keeps up to date with his progress. He has an intensive training regime with task that he has to complete every week, sending video evidence of his progress to the Federation.

Many of his team mates are going to go over to Austin, Texas to support Rob. Even though Rob does not “trust them to keep me in check before the game” he has Trinity Coach, Darrin O’Toole to guide him.

A week of intense training awaits Rob before the competition with world renowned head coach of running backs, Hiroki Uno, who has coached in the Ivy Samurai Bowl and three college all-star games. Even with pads and helmets, he has fractured his elbow and has had concussions in the past. He says thats why he likes being the running back you get a “touch down and you don’t usually get hurt.”

The definition of an all rounder would probably be Rob. Not only is he a six-foot sports man but also a songwriter and musician who plays piano, guitar and drums. The one thing he will definitely be packing in his suitcase he says will be his guitar. He has also applied for Trinity’s Scholarships, with great prospects of being granted the award.

O’Toole commented on the young star’s potential as “looking very good for Rob to be picked for the 45 man roster.” With last year’s roster being made up of 39 Canadians, “for Rob to get this fair is very exciting.” The coach praised Rob for being the “most talented player to come out of Ireland.” He is extremely athletic and has only been playing for two sessions, O’Toole commented that “he has adapted well to the sport and theres a lot opportunities if he makes the roster.”

Making the team is, as O’Toole said, the “equivalent of making the Olympics” for American Football.

Rob has also been highly recommended by Sky Sports NFL Analyses and SMU coach, Jeff Reinebold, who was very impressed with Rob’s speed and has recommended him to be picked for the World game.

O’Toole stated that he was lucky to be selected as part of the coaching staff for the World team.

He said that if Rob is selected its a “big opportunity for him to make a good impression and it also puts Trinity and Ireland on the American Football map.” The announcement of the 45-roster for the World team will be coming out in the next few weeks.

By James Hussey

This should have been the year that Green Bay’s renaissance was complete, when the shackles created by Brett Favre’s interminable “retirement” would be cast aside and Aaron Rodgers could assume his position at the top table of league quarterbacks.

Failing that, the golden-toothed Chris Johnson’s attempts for a second successive 2000 yard rushing season was bound to grab all the headlines. Welcome on stage your pantomime villain, Michael Vick!

Vick, jailed three years ago for his role in a dog-fighting ring, quickly became the pin-up boy of modern American anger and resentment upon his release. White America was disgusted by his inhumane treatment of dogs and the lies he told to cover his tracks. Black America disapproved of his cruel pastime but also railed against the fact that Vick had made himself a negative black stereotype.

His fall was complete by the end of 2007, stripped of his position as Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, imprisoned and with public dismay at its zenith, Vick was the “bust flush” of his sport.

Fast forward three years and Vick has a new team, a positive outlook, and most importantly, a new lifestyle, away from what he deemed as his “ghetto antics”. He is still, according to a recent Forbes magazine poll, “The Most Disliked Person in Sports”. Vick has been out of prison for over a year. He has publicly apologised in front of ex-coaches and team mates, his family and friends, yet his image rehabilitation has been painfully slow.

The race card has undoubtedly been used on Michael Vick throughout his NFL exile and subsequent return. Sports writers the length and breadth of America questioned the suitability of Vick’s return to a professional stage after charges of brutality brought against him were proved correct. In this writer’s opinion, the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback was, and continues to be, victimised by the American press for, among other things, being a privileged black man who threw it all away.

Vick has often spoken about the violence of his childhood and how, as a youngster, football kept him off the streets and into the view of prospective school scouts.

Modern America is not short of success stories from “projects” across the country. Vick, upon attending Virginia Tech, joined countless other athletes who had worked their way out of the ghettos and into college due to prodigious natural talents.

Michael Vick’s story (without the national stardom) is one familiar to many young black men throughout America who are passed through the system, return to their original neighbourhoods and get involved in behaviour that leads to incarceration. His story should not be looked at in isolation, but rather in a larger, societal context. I do not want to excuse Vick’s shameful crimes, but rather implore that they be viewed against the background from which he came.
The opinion held by many in African-American society of canines is very different to that of the stereotypical view on man’s best friend. Dogs were used as a tool by white slave owners to seek out runaway black slaves. They were used again to quell race riots by the predominantly white police force in the face of “black violence”. In various “ghettos” across America, dogs are baited on a regular basis. A dog can be seen as anything from a companion to an extension of the white man’s historical, racially motivated oppression to various members of American society. This sets the scene for Vick’s complaint that he did not realise the implications of his actions, having being brought up in an area where dog fighting was a widely accepted past time. Never having viewed dogs as tame pets, merely as pseudo-contestants in illicit organised canine fights, goes some way to explain his behaviour.

The media jumped on the aforementioned statement, questioning the suitability of Vick to appear on an international stage when he could not, apparently, tell the difference between cruelty and sport. The race card was well and truly played by the press throughout the period following Vick’s comments. America’s writers jumped upon the ex-Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback as another example of depravity bred by the poverty in “ghettoes” across America. I would proffer that, far from excusing Vick’s actions, his statement indicates the improvements needed in social housing projects, especially regarding young African-American men. Michael Vick’s conviction should have acted as a catalyst for some social change, instead he was placed on a perverse pedestal and crucified by the national media.

I am not, in any way, lessening the significance of Vick’s horrific crimes. He bred approximately 60 dogs in his Virginia home in cramped conditions, purely for the purpose of fighting them in grubby settings across the Southern state. Vick, in a recent interview, claimed that he had fallen back in with people from his old neighbourhood, got involved in the ghetto lifestyle again and restarted the habits that were prevalent during his upbringing in Newport News. This is no excuse for criminal activity but goes some way to explaining why Philadelphia’s newly “re-born man” participated in such heinous practices. That Vick saw nothing wrong with fighting pit bull dogs indicates the deep-rooted habits of his community. Vick’s origins had never left him, his “Bad Newz Kennels” enterprise merely a latent expression of the childhood he had experienced in a poverty-stricken Virginia City.

His crimes were horrific and the falsehoods he told in the aftermath of his discovery made everything worse, but the media deluge Vick has faced in his rehabilitation has been nothing short of shameful. The question that I, and others, continue to ask is would the same treatment be meted out to a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? Michael Vick wasn’t the wholesome character expected of quarterbacks in a league where the image of a team’s “man under centre” is integral to media success.

He has, in returning to the starting job in Philadelphia, without a doubt changed his ways, but one must wonder will Michael Vick’s career continue to be reported on in such an unforgiving, media-driven society.

By Aoife O’Gorman

I have a confession to make. I have always imagined myself to be a great athlete. One of those people with a natural talent for sport – the underdog who rises to the top against all odds to take the heavyweight boxing title, or score the winning goal in the cup final. As it happens, I am the underdog who remains the underdog – the one in training who stands at the back, and looks, in a vaguely hopeful manner, in the direction of the scoreboard, waiting for it to change miraculously of its own accord, and always slightly surprised when it doesn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I am perfectly content with my uselessness on the pitch. At 5’3”, I am unlikely to take a heavyweight title any time soon. And it turns out that at least a semblance of hand-eye coordination is useful in most sports. So, dear reader, I have chosen a different path.
I, my friends, am a Master Spectator.

From my days of hiding from footballs in the relative safety of the goal, and being subbed out to the opposing netball team when they were a man down, I have risen to the heady heights of the sidelines of hurling and rugby, badminton and baseball, archery and ice hockey. I have flinched from the rebound of an Olympic handball, languidly applauded the surfers from the sands (nursing the facial bruises from an ill-fated attempt to join them).

I have watched – and appreciated –Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and The Karate Kid. I have even, and I tread on sacred ground here, contemplated entering a Cheese Rolling or Wife Carrying Contest. But come closer, as I whisper, I have always had absolute faith in my capacity to fence.

Forget my complete lack of speed or agility, my inability to even attempt to defend myself (“’en garde’? Could we not maybe settle this over a nice slice of cake instead?”): somehow, my brain has convinced itself that foil in hand, I will transform into the lovechild of Zorro and Inigo Montoya, channelling Cap’n Jack and all three musketeers plus d’Artagnan as I swashbuckle my way through college. I will parry, I will riposte, I will not fall flat on my face when I trip over my own feet…. I have yet to test this theory.

The problem is that my fallback position is impossible. Fencing, famously, is not a spectator sport. The joy is in the perfect hit, the flèche (a sort of jumping attack, all very dramatic and Count of Monte Cristo), that split second where your sword slides almost flirtatiously around your opponent’s and you score.

It is a joy that only a participant can really feel. With three minute bouts, it is a sport of speed and precision, steeped in tradition, but constantly innovating. Supposedly, it is only fun to watch if you know what is going on. I do not agree – having attended the South of Ireland Open in Cork, even without knowing that A had countered B’s lunge with a counterparry sixte-terce, I found myself thoroughly caught up on the intense clashes, the drawn-out pause as antagonists eye each other, taking their measure, before the sudden leap into fierce activity.

Fencing is not a sport for spectators, not because of any elitism or exclusivity, but because one cannot remain a spectator. As you watch, your fingers are itching to fold lovingly around the grip, don that mask and try for yourself.

And really, I have no excuse not to. With the oldest and best fencing school in the country on my doorstep, I could have been denying my true potential for years. Through training with the best fencers in the country – Trinity fencers are the Intervarsity Champions, some National Champions in their chosen weapon and comprise almost half of the Irish team. I will hit the national and international scene, fighting in competitions in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Croatia, Budapest and Mexico to name a few. Obviously, there will be a dramatic injury, seriously damaging my Olympic prospects, but worry not, a last-minute recovery, or possibly, my determination to fight on, will lead me to the victor’s podium and the laurel crown. Box-office hit, right there.

So I’ve decided. This year will be my move from spectator to actual participant. Expect frequent challenges to duels from here on out.

By Tom Heavey

Mountain biking has its origins in 1960s Europe, when cyclists used to freewheel down wide gravel roads of mountainous terrain. Early pioneers such as Gary Fisher and Fred Wolfe put oversized tyres on cruiser bikes and began to race the dusty bumpy trails that interweave the hillsides of Marin. Since those days there have been major developments in suspension, hydraulic disk brakes and more advanced frame technology which have allowed the sport to progress at a phenomenal pace.

No longer do mountain bikes ride the wide and relatively mundane gravel roads, today in Ireland there are endless kilometers of singletrack, painstakingly designed to allow the rider to experience as much flow, speed and fun as possible while descending from top to bottom of their chosen mountain, before riding all the way back up to the peak again to take another descent through forests, hillsides and valleys.

Downhill discipline has a number of differences to cross-country. The terrain often has large obstacles such as rocks, boulders, tree roots, large drops and jumps. Built to withstand the pressure of riding such tracks, the bikes are too heavy and too highly geared to cycle without gravity’s assistance.

Once at the top of the mountain or hill, the rider dons the appropriate safety equipment and begins an intense high-speed descent down a purpose built track. The entire race takes about 4 minutes, in which the rider must control a 40lb bike at the fastest speed possible.

Dublin University Cross Country has recently embraced mountain biking. In the last three years, the club has gone from strength to strength, and last year it hosted the hotly contested Irish Downhill Intervarsities in Wexford. Here, club rider Richard Smith took second place. Smith is one of Ireland’s top downhillers, having represented his country on several occasions. DUCC captain Steve Scrivener was crowned 2010 Leinster Champion.

While Ireland does not have many mountains compared to the rest if Europe, they are albeit easily accessible, lending themselves perfectly to mountain biking. There are endless cross-country trails in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains.
Driving one hour from Dublin to Rostrevor will take you to one of the country’s most demanding downhill courses: the National Championship course. The NC is not for the faint hearted and demands the utmost respect. It has endless rocky slabs, tight steep switchbacks and high speed narrow sections with minimal room for error. The Northern Ireland Forestry Service are currently constructing 27km of cross-country trails in Rostrevor as well as two high-level downhill courses, one of which will provide riders with numerous jumps and drops. This means large amounts of airtime for the riders, and another trail which will be more technical and steep, akin to the existing course.

There is a form of biking to suit most people, and trails that will keep all riders content. At the moment DUCC is running beginners’ outings every weekend, where they take novices and introduce them to the appropriate trails. In my opinion, DUCC takes its bikers to the most exhilarating and adrenaline inducing trails the country has to offer.

With the racing season set to start in January, the club will be focusing on the development of new racers and encouragin current riders to continue to improve. DUCC hopes that the pace of involvement in the Mounting Biking will continue to quicken.